The Latest: Mental health treatment, instead of jail

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Latest on a federal court suit settlement to get mentally ill Louisiana inmates into treatment (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

Advocacy groups say the state health department has agreed to provide more bed space for Louisiana inmates found incompetent to stand trial and those found not guilty of crimes by reason of insanity.

The MacArthur Justice Center and The Advocacy Center of New Orleans say the agreement in a federal court suit will mean an end to the "warehousing" of mentally ill inmates in jail.

Terms of the settlement were outlined in a news release Tuesday from the two groups. A state health department spokeswoman said the department planned no statement on the settlement, which court records indicate was reached last week.

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1 p.m.

Advocacy groups say a court settlement will lead to hospital treatment, instead of incarceration, for mentally ill Louisiana inmates.

The MacArthur Justice Center and The Advocacy Center said Tuesday in a joint news release that the federal court settlement case affects people tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity, as well as inmates found mentally incompetent to stand trial.

The release says the state Department of Health will expand bed capacity over the next eight months so inmates with mental illness will be admitted within 15 days of being committed to state care — two days if they need acute or emergency mental health care.

Court records show a settlement was reached last week. State health department officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.